Ultrasound probe

ABSTRACT

An ultrasound probe includes a receiving section to receive ultrasound waves from an object and to acquire a receiving signal of each of multiple channels; a beam forming section to adjust a phase of the receiving signal of each of multiple channels and to sum the receiving signals; an image producing section to produce image data to display an ultrasound diagnostic image based on the receiving signals summed by the beam forming section; a transmission target selecting section to select one from at least two of the receiving signal for each of multiple channels, the receiving signals summed by the beam forming section, and the image data as a transmission target; and a transmitting section to transmit the transmission target selected by the transmission target selecting section.

This application is based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2011-126856filed on Jun. 7, 2011, in Japan Patent Office, the entire content ofwhich is hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an ultrasound probe.

Conventionally, known ultrasound image diagnostic apparatuses of awireless type are configured to wirelessly transmit ultrasound wave dataacquired by an ultrasound probe to an apparatus main body.

In such an ultrasound image diagnostic apparatus, an ultrasound probebeing a transmission source converts the acquired ultrasound wave datainto a prescribed data format capable of being processed in an apparatusbody being a transmission destination, and then the converted ultrasoundwave data are transmitted to the apparatus main body (for example, referto Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2009-291515).

However, in the technique described in the above patent document, thedata format transmitted by the ultrasound probe is predetermined inaccordance with the specification of the device body being atransmission destination. Accordingly, the ultrasound probe deals withonly the above device body or a device body with the equivalentspecification. Therefore, the ultrasound probe is poor in generalversatility.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide an ultrasound probewhich can be applied to ultrasound image diagnostic apparatuses withvarious specifications and has high general versatility.

In order to solve the above problems, in the invention described in Item1, an ultrasound probe includes:

a receiving section to receive ultrasound waves from an object and toacquire a receiving signal of each of multiple channels;

a phasing and adding section to perform processing of phasing and addingfor the receiving signal of each of multiple channels;

an image producing section to produce image data to display anultrasound diagnostic image based on the receiving signals having beensubjected to the processing of phasing and adding;

a transmission target selecting section to select one from at least twoof the receiving signal for each of multiple channels, the receivingsignals having been subjected to the processing of phasing and adding,and the image data as a transmission target; and

a transmitting section to transmit the transmission target selected bythe transmission target selecting section.

In the invention described in Item 2, in the ultrasound probe describedin Item 1, the ultrasound probe further includes a changeover switch toallow an operator to perform changeover operations, and the transmissiontarget selecting section selects the transmission target in accordancewith an operation via the changeover switch.

In the invention described in Item 3, in the ultrasound probe describedin Item 1, the ultrasound probe further includes a battery as a powersource to make respective sections of the ultrasound probe to act, andthe transmission target selecting section selects the transmissiontarget in accordance with a remaining quantity of electricity in thebattery.

In the invention described in Item 4, in the ultrasound probe describedin Item 1, the transmission target selecting section selects thetransmission target in accordance with a transmitting condition betweenthe transmitting section and an ultrasound image diagnostic apparatusbody which is a transmission destination of the transmission target.

In the invention described in Item 5, in the ultrasound probe describedin Item 1, the ultrasound probe further includes a transmission signalreceiving section to receive a transmission signal from an ultrasoundimage diagnostic apparatus body which is a transmission destination ofthe transmission target, and when the transmission signal receivingsection receives a transmission target designating signal to designate atransmission target from the ultrasound image diagnostic apparatus body,the transmission target selecting section selects the transmissiontarget corresponding to the received transmission target designatingsignal.

In the invention described in Item 6, in the ultrasound probe describedin any one of Items 1 to 5, the ultrasound probe further includes apower control section to select a limiting target, to which supply ofpower is limited, from the phasing and adding section and the imageproducing section based on the transmission target selected by thetransmission target selecting section, and to limit supply of power forthe selected limiting target.

In the invention described in Item 7, in the ultrasound probe describedin any one of Items 1 to 5, the ultrasound probe father includes anoperation clock control section to select a lowering target, to which afrequency of an operation clock is lowered, from the phasing and addingsection and the image producing section based on the transmission targetselected by the transmission target selecting section, and to change afrequency of an operation clock supplied to the selected lowering targetfrom a prescribed driving frequency to a prescribed standby frequencybeing a lower frequency than the driving frequency.

According to the present invention, an ultrasound probe can beconfigured to be applied to ultrasound image diagnostic apparatuses withvarious specifications and to have high general versatility.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an outer appearance constitution of anultrasound image diagnostic apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an outline constitution of anultrasound probe.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an outline constitution of anultrasound image diagnostic apparatus main body.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Hereafter, an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus according to theembodiment of the present invention will be explained with reference toa drawing. However, the scope of the invention is not limited to theexamples shown in the drawings. In the following description, structuralparts which have the same function and structure to each other areprovided with the same reference symbols, and the description for themwill be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 1, an ultrasound image diagnostic apparatus S accordingto an embodiment of the present invention includes an ultrasound imagediagnostic apparatus main body 1 and a ultrasound probe 2. Theultrasound probe 2 is configured to transmit ultrasound waves(transmitted ultrasound waves) to samples, such as a living body whichis not illustrated, and to receive reflected waves (reflected ultrasoundwaves: echo) of the ultrasound waves reflected from this sample.Further, the ultrasound probe 2 is configured to be able to transmit andreceive data wirelessly to and from the ultrasound image diagnosticapparatus main body 1. As wireless communication systems, any knownsystems may be employable. However, in this embodiment, for examples, asystem according to an international standard “IEEE802.11n” is employed.The ultrasound probe 2 is configured to acquire reception signals beingelectric signals from the received reflected ultrasound waves, toconvert the reception signals via A/D conversion into data with apredetermined transmission format, and then to transmit wirelessly thedata to the ultrasound image diagnostic apparatus main body 1. Theultrasound probe 2 includes a changeover switch 21 to allow an operatorto perform changeover operations. The changeover switch 21 is, forexample, a slide switch. However, as long as an operator can performchangeover operations, any type of switches, such as limit switches, andtoggle switches may be employable.

The ultrasound image diagnostic apparatus main body 1 makes an internalstate of a sample images as an ultrasound diagnostic image based on thedata transmitted from the ultrasound probe 2, and displays the images ona display 107. Moreover, the ultrasound image diagnostic apparatus mainbody 1 is equipped with the operation input section 108, and can carryout the radio transmission of the information according to actuation ofthe operation input section 108 to the ultrasound probe 2.

As shown in FIG. 2, the ultrasound probe 2 includes, for example, abattery 201, a booster circuit 202, a transmitting section 203,transducers 204, a receiving section 205, a beam forming section 206, anenvelope detecting section 207, a data thinning section 208, a logarithmconverting section 209, a brightness converting section 210, a pixelinterpolating section 211, an image memory 212, a transmission datachangeover control section 213, a transmission data producing section214, a wireless transmission and reception section 215, an antenna 216,and a voltage and operation clock control section 217.

The battery 201 supplies a power source to respective sections whichconstitute the ultrasound probe 2. For example, when the ultrasoundprobe 2 is attached to a holder (not shown) of the ultrasound diagnosticapparatus main body 1, an electric power is supplied to the battery 201.

The booster circuit 202 is a circuit which is configured to raise apower source voltage supplied from the battery 201 to a voltage of 60 Vto 150 V which can drive the ultrasound probe 2, and to supply theraised power voltage to the transmitting section 203.

The transmitting section 203 is a circuit configured to supply drivingsignals being electrical signals to the transducers 204, and to make thetransducers 204 generate transmitting ultrasound waves. The transducer204 is composed of, for example, a piezoelectric element, and aplurality of transducers 204 are arranged in an one dimensional arrayform. After outputting transmitting ultrasound waves, upon receipt ofreflected ultrasound waves, the transducer 204 outputs reception signalsto the receiving section 205. In this embodiment, for example, 192transducers 204 are aligned. In this regard, the transducers may bearranged in a two-dimensional array form. Further, the number oftransducers may be set up arbitrarily. Moreover, in this embodiment,although a linear electronic scan probe is adopted as the ultrasoundprobe 2, any type of an electronic scanning type or a mechanicalscanning manner may be adopted, and further any type of a linear scantype, a sector scanning type and a convex scan type may also be adopted.The transmitting section 203 includes, for example, a transmitting BF(Beam Forming) control circuit, and sets a delay time to a transmissiontiming of a driving signal for each of individual passages correspondingto the respective transducers, and focus a transmission beam composed oftransmission ultrasound waves by delaying transmission of respectivedriving signals by the set delaying time.

The receiving section 205 includes an AMP (amplifier) 205 a, and an ADC(Analog to Digital Converter) 205 b. A plurality of receiving sections205 are provided corresponding to the plurality of transducers. Theamplifier 205 a is a circuit for amplifying the reception signals withrespective predetermined amplification rates set beforehand forrespective individual passages corresponding to the respectivetransducers. The ADC 205 b is configured to conduct an A/D conversionfor the amplified reception signals by sampling with a predeterminedfrequency (for example, 60 MHz), and output the converted receptionsignals.

In this embodiment, the transmitting and receiving section 2 a isconstituted by the booster circuit 202, the transmitting section 203,the transducers 204, and the receiving section 205 which are constitutedas mentioned above.

The beam forming section 206 adjusts timing phase of the receptionsignals subjected to the A/D conversion by the ADC 205 b by providing adelay time for each of the individual passages corresponding to therespective transducers, sums these signals so as to produce sound raydata, and outputs the sound ray data. The envelope detecting section 207performs full wave rectification for the sound ray data output from thebeam forming section 206, and obtains envelope data. The envelopedetecting section 207 outputs the acquired envelope data to the datathinning section 208.

In this embodiment, a sound ray data producing section 2 b isconstituted by the beam forming section 206 and the envelope detectingsection 207 both of which are structured as mentioned above.

The data thinning section 208 conducts data thinning with regard to adistance direction (depth direction) of the envelope data in accordancewith an image size to be displayed on the display 107 of the ultrasoundimage diagnostic apparatus main body 1 The logarithm converting section209 performs a logarithmic amplification to the input envelope data. Atthis time, adjustment of a gain, a dynamic range, and the like may beperformed. The brightness converting section 210 performs anamplitude/brightness conversion in order to quantize the magnitude ofsignals indicated by the envelope data subjected to the logarithmicamplification into 256 gradations, thereby producing B mode image data.That is, the B mode image data expresses the strength of receptionsignals with brightness. The pixel interpolating section 211 producesinterpolated pixel data being data of interpolating pixels arranged inthe azimuth direction of the B mode image data in accordance with animage size to be displayed on the display 107 of the ultrasound imagediagnostic apparatus main body 1. The image memory 212 is constitutedby, for example, semiconductor memories, such as DRAM (Dynamic RandomAccess Memory), and stores the B mode image data and the interpolatingpixel data transmitted from the pixel interpolating section 211 in aunit of a frame. That is, the image memory 212 can store the ultrasounddiagnostic image data constituted in a unit of a frame.

In this embodiment, the image producing section 2 c is constituted bythe data thinning section 208, the logarithm converting section 209, thebrightness converting section 210, the pixel interpolating section 211,and the image memory 212 which are constituted as mentioned above.

The transmission data changeover control section 213 changes over datainput into the transmission data producing section 214 as a target of aradio transmission by changing over the setting position of the transmitdata changeover switch 213 a. Specifically, when the transmit datachangeover switch 213 a is set at a position “A”, the transmission datachangeover control section 213 inputs the reception signals ofrespective channels output from the ADC 205 b after being subjected tothe A/D conversion as a target of wireless transmission into thetransmission data producing section 214. Further, when the transmit datachangeover switch 213 a is set at a position “B”, the transmission datachangeover control section 213 inputs sound ray data output from thebeam forming section 206 as a target of wireless transmission into thetransmission data producing section 214. Furthermore, when the transmitdata changeover switch 213 a is set at a position “C”, the transmissiondata changeover control section 213 inputs ultrasound diagnostic imagedata as a target of wireless transmission into the transmission dataproducing section 214. In this way, in this embodiment, a transmissiontarget selecting section is constituted by the transmission datachangeover control section 213 and the transmit data changeover switch213 a. Here, this embodiment is constituted such that only one amongswitch-over conditions mentioned below is selectively functioned.However, needless to say, multiple switch-over conditions may befunctioned.

The transmission data changeover control section 213 is connected to achangeover switch 21. The changeover switch 21 outputs signalscorresponding to the position of the switch to the transmission datachangeover control section 213. The transmission data changeover controlsection 213 makes a signal from the changeover switch 21 as a changeovercondition, and can change the position of the transmission datachangeover switch 213 a in accordance with this.

Further, the transmission data changeover control section 213 isconfigured to detect a remaining quantity of the battery 201, makes thedetection result of the remaining quantity as a changeover condition,and can change the position of the transmission data changeover switch213 a in accordance with the remaining quantity. For example, when thetransmission data changeover control section 213 detects that theremaining quantity of the battery 201 becomes 60% or less, the positionof the transmission data changeover switch 213 a is set to “B”, and whenthe transmission data changeover control section 213 detects that theremaining quantity of the battery 201 becomes 40% or less, the positionof the transmission data changeover switch 213 a is set to “A”, wherebyprocessing load is reduced so as to suppress the consumption of thebattery.

The transmission data producing section 214 produces transmission databy converting the data input from the transmission data changeoverswitch 213 a into a predetermined transmission form, and outputs thetransmission data to the wireless transmission and reception section215. At this time, in order to judge a wireless transmission state ofthe ultrasound image diagnostic apparatus main body 1 and the ultrasoundprobe 2, error correcting codes are added. In this regard, errorcorrecting codes may be made not to be added.

The wireless transmission and reception section 215 applies apredetermined modulation process to the transmission data output fromthe transmission data producing section 214, and wirelessly transmitsthe resulting transmission data to the ultrasound image diagnosticapparatus main body 1 via the antenna 216. Further, the wirelesstransmission and reception section 215 receives the transmission targetdesignating information and transmission state information bothmentioned below wirelessly transmitted from the ultrasound imagediagnostic apparatus main body 1 via the antenna 216, demodulates thereceived information, and outputs the demodulated information to thetransmission data changeover control section 213.

A voltage and operation clock control section 217 acting as a powercontrol section and an operation clock control section limits the supplyof power to the sound ray data producing section 2 b and the imageproducing section 2 c, or controls the frequency of the operation clocksignal supplied to the sound ray data producing section 2 b and theimage producing section 2 c in accordance with the changeover positionof the transmission data changeover switch 213 a by the transmissiondata changeover control section 213. The voltage and operation clockcontrol section 217 can select one of the limitation of the power supplyand the control of the operation clock frequency, and conducts theselected one. In this connection, the embodiment may be made to provideonly one of a power control section to limit power supply and anoperation clock control section to control an operation clock frequencyin place of the voltage and operation clock control section 217.Further, the embodiment may be made to provide none of the power controlsection and the operation clock control section.

Now, description will be given for operations in the case where supplyof power is limited by the voltage and operation clock control section217.

When the transmission data changeover switch 213 a is set at theposition “A” by the transmission data changeover control section 213,the voltage and the operation clock control section 217 stops supply ofpower to the sound ray data producing section 2 b and the imageproducing section 2 c. That is, when reception signals after beingsubjected to the A/D conversion are selected as a wireless transmissiontarget by the transmission data changeover control section 213, the beamforming processing and the image production processing becomeunnecessary. Accordingly, with the stop of operations in respectivesections to conduct the above processing, power saving may be attained.

Moreover, similarly, when the transmission data changeover switch 213 ais set at the position “B” by the transmission data changeover controlsection 213, the sound ray data are selected as a wireless transmissiontarget, and the image producing processing by the image producingsection 2 c becomes unnecessary. Accordingly, the voltage and operationclock control section 217 stops supply of power to the image producingsection 2 c.

Meanwhile, when the transmission data changeover switch 213 a is set atthe position “C” by the transmission data changeover control section213, the voltage and operation clock control section 217 supplies powerto both the sound ray data producing section 2 b and the image producingsection 2 c.

Next, description will be given for operations in the case where controlof operation clock frequency is conducted by the voltage and operationclock control section 217.

When the transmission data changeover switch 213 a is set at theposition “A” by the transmission data changeover control section 213,the voltage and operation clock control section 217 changes thefrequency of the operation clock signal supplied to the sound ray dataproducing section 2 b and the image producing section 2 c from the usualdrive frequency to the standby frequency being a lower frequency thanthe drive frequency. Specifically, for example, the above change can berealized by change over clock signals output from a crystal oscillatorfrom a frequency divider circuit for the usual driver to a frequencydivider circuit for standby. For example, the standby frequency may setto ½ to ⅛ of the drive frequency. However, the standby frequency is notlimited to this example. By the above constitution, power saving may beattained.

Further, similarly, when the transmission data changeover switch 213 ais set at the position “B” by the transmission data changeover controlsection 213, the voltage and operation clock control section 217 changesthe frequency of the operation clock signal supplied to the imageproducing section 2 c from the usual drive frequency to the standbyfrequency.

Meanwhile, when the transmission data changeover switch 213 a is set atthe position “C” by the transmission data changeover control section213, the voltage and operation clock control section 217 makes thefrequency of the operation clock signal supplied to both the sound raydata producing section 2 b and the image producing section 2 c to theusual drive frequency.

As shown in FIG. 3, the ultrasound image diagnostic apparatus main bodylincludes, for example, a wireless transmission and reception section101, an antenna 102, a beam forming section 103, an image producingsection 104, a memory section 105, a DSC (Digital Scan Converter)106, adisplay 107, an operation input section 108, and a control section 109.

The control section 109 includes, for example, a CPU (Central ProcessingUnit), a ROM (Read Only Memory) and a RAM (Random Access Memory). Thecontrol section 109 reads out various processing programs, such as asystem program memorized in the ROM, develops the processing programs tothe RAM, and conduct central control for operations of respectivesections of the ultrasound image diagnostic apparatus S in accordancewith the developed programs.

The ROM is constituted by nonvolatile memories, such as semi-conductormemories, etc. and memorizes system programs corresponding to theultrasound image diagnostic apparatus S, various processing programscapable of being executed on the system programs, and various data.These programs are stored with the form of program codes readable by acomputer, and the CPU performs operations sequentially in accordancewith the program code. The RAM forms a work area in which variousprograms executed by the CPU and data in association with these programsare stored temporarily.

In accordance with instruction of the control section 109, the wirelesstransmission and reception section 101 receives transmission datawirelessly transmitted from the ultrasound probe 2 and demodulates thedata When the received transmission data are reception signals ofrespective channels after being subjected to the A/D conversion, thecontrol section 109 instructs the wireless transmission and receptionsection 101 so as to output the demodulated transmission data to thebeam forming section 103. Further, when the received transmission dataare sound ray data, the control section 109 instructs the wirelesstransmission and reception section 101 so as to output the demodulatedtransmission data to the image producing section 104. Furthermore, whenthe received transmission data are ultrasound diagnostic image data, thecontrol section 109 instructs the wireless transmission and receptionsection 101 so as to output the demodulated transmission data to thememory section 105.

Moreover, the wireless transmission and reception section 101 outputsthe received transmission data to the control section 109. The controlsection 109 calculates the error ratio of data based on the errorcorrecting code added to this transmission data. Here, an error ratio isan index which shows how many data are in error in transmission datawhen the transmission data transmitted wirelessly from the ultrasoundprobe 2 are received by the ultrasound image diagnostic apparatus mainbody 1 That is, the error ratio is a value which shows a ratio whichtransmission data are in error during the wireless transmission from theultrasound probe 2 to the ultrasound image diagnostic apparatus mainbody 1 The control section 109 judges the transmission state between theultrasound image diagnostic apparatus main body 1 and the ultrasoundprobe 2 from the calculated error ratio. The transmission state is set,for example as three stages. The control section 109 instructs thewireless transmission and reception section 101 to wirelessly transmittransmission state information indicating the judged transmission stateto the ultrasound probe 2 via the antenna 102. The ultrasound probe 2makes the received transmission state information as a changeovercondition and conducts control in accordance with the receivedtransmission state information. For example, when the transmission stateinformation is information indicating that the transmission state isgood, the ultrasound probe 2 controls the transmission data changeovercontrol section 213 to change over the position of the transmission datachangeover switch 213 a to “A”. Further, when the transmission stateinformation is information indicating that the transmission state is notgood, the ultrasound probe 2 controls the transmission data changeovercontrol section 213 to change over the position of the transmission datachangeover switch 213 a to “B”. Furthermore, when the transmission stateinformation is information indicating that the transmission state isbad, the ultrasound probe 2 controls the transmission data changeovercontrol section 213 to change over the position of the transmission datachangeover switch 213 a to “C” in accordance with the transmission stateinformation. In this case, further, the remaining quantity of thebattery 201 mentioned above is detected by the transmission datachangeover control section 213, and the position of the transmissiondata changeover switch 213 a may be changed over in accordance with theremaining quantity. In addition, the control section 109 may be made toperform the error correction of the transmission data based on the errorcorrecting code added to the transmission data.

The beam forming section 103 performs beam forming for the receptionsignals of respective channels after being subjected to the A/Dconversion so as to produce sound ray data, and outputs the sound raydata to the image producing section 104. Since the procedures of thebeam forming are same those in the beam forming section 206 of theultrasound probe 2, the detailed description about the procedures of thebeam forming are omitted.

The image producing unit 104 conducts envelope detection processing, alogarithmic amplification, etc. for the sound ray data produced by thebeam forming section 103 and the ultrasound probe 2, and furtherconducts the adjustment of a dynamic range and gain so as to convert thebrightness, thereby producing B-mode image data. Subsequently, theB-mode image data produced in the above ways are transmitted to thememory unit 105.

The memory unit 105 is constituted by, for example, semiconductormemories, such as a DRAM, and memorizes the B-mode image datatransmitted from the image producing unit 104 in a unit of a frame. Withthis, ultrasound diagnostic image data are produced. Further, the memoryunit 105 can memorize ultrasound diagnostic image data produced in theultrasound probe 2 in a unit of a frame. Subsequently, the memorizedultrasound diagnostic image data in the memory unit 105 is transmittedto the DSC 106 in accordance with control of the control unit 109.

The DSC 106 converts the ultrasound diagnostic image data received fromthe memory unit 105 into image signals corresponding to the scan mode bytelevision signals, and outputs them to the display unit 107.

As the display unit 107, displays, such as a LCD (Liquid CrystalDisplay), a CRT (Cathode-Ray Tube) display, an organicelectroluminescence (Electronic Luminescence) display, and a plasmadisplay may be applicable. The display unit 107 displays images on adisplay screen in accordance with the image signals output from the DSC106. In this connection, in replace of a display device, printingdevices such as printers may be employed.

The operation inputting unit 108 is equipped with various types ofswitches, buttons, trackballs, mouse, and keyboards, for example, forperforming input of commands to instruct start of diagnosis and datawith regard to personal information of objects to be examined, and theoperation inputting unit 108 outputs operation signals to the controlunit 109. A user can select the target of data wirelessly transmittedfrom the ultrasound probe 2 via operations on the operation inputsection 108. The control section 109 instructs in accordance withselection operation on the operation inputting unit 108 the wirelesstransmission and reception section 101 to wirelessly transmit thetransmission target designating information to designate data to be madeas a target of wireless transmission to the ultrasound probe 2 via theantenna 102. The ultrasound probe 2 makes the received transmissiontarget designating information as a changeover condition, and can changeover the position of the transmission data changeover switch 213 a bythe transmission data changeover control section 213 in accordance withthe received transmission target designating information.

The usability of the ultrasound probe 2 constituted in the above waywill be described.

As shown in FIG. 2, the reception data for each channel having beensubjected to the A/D conversion, the sound ray data, and the ultrasounddiagnostic image data are different in data format from each other, andfurther different in data size from each other. Therefore, they are alsodifferent in required transmission rate. For example, consideration istaken for the case where the reception data having been subjected to theA/D conversion of each channel are transmitted wirelessly from theultrasound probe 2 to the ultrasound image diagnostic apparatus mainbody 1. In the above case, when the number of channels is 192 CHs, thereception data having been subjected to the A/D conversion per onechannel are quantized into 14 bits and the sampling frequency ofreception signals is 60 MHz, an at least necessary transmission ratebecomes as follows.

192×14×60×10⁶=161.28 Gbps

Further, the reception signals of each channel are subjected to the beamforming process, and in the case where the sound ray data of 22 bit perone sample are wirelessly transmitted, an at least necessarytransmission rate becomes as follows.

22×60×10⁶=1320 Mbps

Furthermore, consideration is taken for the case where ultrasounddiagnostic image data are produced based on the sound ray data and theresulting ultrasound diagnostic image data are wirelessly transmitted.In the above case, on the supposition that a screen size is set tovertical×horizontal: 1000 dot×1000 dot, data size per one dot is set to24 bit (8 bit for each of RGB) in order to correspond to color Dopplermethod, and a frame rate is set to 15 Frame/sec, an at least necessarytransmission rate becomes as follows.

24×1000×1000×15=360 Mbps

That is, if wireless transmission is conducted by use of ultrasounddiagnostic image data, the necessary transmission rate becomes thesmallest.

On the other hand, with regard to processing for reception signals, suchas a beam forming process, an envelope detection process, a datathinning process, and a pixel interpolation process, various techniquesare applied on an apparatus by manufacturers of ultrasound imagediagnostic apparatus main body and product models in order todistinguish from other apparatuses. As mentioned above, in theultrasound probe 2, the reception signals are processed to be made toultrasound diagnostic image data, and then the ultrasound diagnosticimage data are wirelessly transmitted. This technique becomesadvantageous in respect of a transmission rate. However, in theultrasound image diagnostic apparatus main body-side, there is no chanceto apply the above-mentioned signal processing technique to thereception signals. Such advantages on the apparatus main body side arenot utilized. Accordingly, for example, in the case where data can betransmitted with a data format such as reception signal of each channelto which the above-mentioned signal processing technique can be applied,although a necessary transmission rate becomes large, the degree offreedom in terms of signal processing at the apparatus main body sideincreases, and the ultrasound probe is made excellent in usability.

Moreover, as the number of processing processes for reception signalsincreases, hardware resources used for the processing increases andpower consumption increases. For example, in the ultrasound probe 2 inthis embodiment, when a processing load on the entire constitution shownin FIG. 2 is 100%, a processing load on the transmitting and receivingsection 2 a is 40%, a processing load on a sound ray data producingsection 2 b is 20%, and a processing load on image producing section 2 cis 40%. Therefore, as the hardware resources are reduced, the processingload is decreased. As a result, power consumption can be reduced.

In this embodiment, since the ultrasound probe 2 is constituted asmentioned above, a data format is changed over to the optimum dataformat in consideration of a transmission rate, power consumption, andthe specification of an ultrasound image diagnostic apparatus main body,and then the data can be wirelessly transmitted with the optimum dataformat. As a result, the ultrasound probe 2 is made excellent in generalversatility.

Further, in this embodiment, the data format to be transmittedwirelessly can be changed arbitrarily by selecting operations in thechangeover switch 21 and the ultrasound image diagnostic apparatus mainbody 1 Therefore, in the case where the apparatus main body applied withthe ultrasound probe 2 in this embodiment is, for example, a so-calledhigh-end machine applied with the high signal processing technique, auser can select a data format arbitrarily in consideration of atransmission rate, power consumption, diagnostic contents, etc.

As explained above, according to the embodiment of the presentinvention, the transmitting and receiving section 2 a receives theultrasound waves from an object, and acquires a reception signal of eachof multiple channels. The beam forming section 206 performs theprocessing of beam forming for the reception signal of each of multiplechannels. The image producing section 2 c produces the ultrasounddiagnostic image data to display an ultrasound diagnostic image based onthe reception signals having been subjected to the processing of beamforming. The transmission data changeover control section 213 and thetransmission data changeover switch 213 a select one from at least twoof a reception signal of each of multiple channels, sound ray data, andultrasound diagnostic image data as a transmission target. The wirelesstransmission and reception section 215 transmits the transmission targetselected by the transmission data changeover control section 213 and thetransmission data changeover switch 213 a. As a result, it becomespossible to apply various specifications of ultrasound image diagnosticapparatuses. Further, a data format is changed over to the optimum dataformat in consideration of a transmission rate, power consumption, andthe specification of an ultrasound image diagnostic apparatus main body,and then the data can be transmitted with the optimum data format. Thatis, the ultrasound probe 2 is made excellent in general versatility.

Further, according to the embodiment of the present invention, thetransmission data changeover control section 213 and the transmissiondata changeover switch 213 a can select a transmission target inaccordance with operation of the changeover switch 21. As a result, datacan be transmitted with a data format changed over in accordance withthe utilization purpose of a user, which results to be excellent inavailability.

Furthermore, according to the embodiment of the present invention, thetransmission data changeover control section 213 and the transmissiondata changeover switch 213 a selects a transmission target in accordancewith a remaining quantity of electricity in a battery 201. As a result,power consumption can be changed over in accordance with a remainingquantity of electricity in a battery, which results to be able to endurethe examination conducted for a long time.

Moreover, according to the embodiment of the present invention, thetransmission data changeover control section 213 and the transmissiondata changeover switch 213 a selects a transmission target in accordancewith a transmitting condition with the ultrasound image diagnosticapparatus main body 1 being the transmission destination of thetransmission target. As a result, data of reception signals can betransmitted with a data format of a transmission rate changed over to beproper to a transmitting condition, the reliability of data to betransmitted can be enhanced, and further the transmission efficiency ofdata can be enhanced.

Further, according to the embodiment of the present invention, thewireless transmission and reception section 215 receives transmissionsignals from the ultrasound image diagnostic apparatus main body 1 whichis a transmission destination of a transmission target. When thewireless transmission and reception section 215 receives a transmissiontarget instructing signal to designate a transmission target from theultrasound image diagnostic apparatus main body 1, the transmission datachangeover control section 213 and the transmission data changeoverswitch 213 a selects the transmission target corresponding to thereceived transmission target designating signal. As a result, data canbe transmitted with a data format changed over in accordance with theutilization purpose of a user or the specification of the apparatus mainbody, and the ultrasound probe 2 is made excellent in usability andgeneral versatility.

Furthermore, according to the embodiment of the present invention, thevoltage and operation clock control section 217 selects a limitingtarget, to which supply of power is limited, from the beam formingsection 206 and the image producing section 2 c based on thetransmission target selected by the transmission data changeover controlsection 213 and the transmission data changeover switch 213 a, andlimits supply of power for the selected limiting target. As a result,actions in the constitution not used in the processing can be stopped,thereby attaining to save electric power.

Moreover, according to the embodiment of the present invention, thevoltage and operation clock control section 217 selects a loweringtarget, to which a frequency of an operation clock is lowered, from thebeam forming section 206 and the image producing section 2 c based onthe transmission target selected by the transmission data changeovercontrol section 213 and the transmission data changeover switch 213 a,and changes a frequency of an operation clock supplied to the selectedlowering target from a prescribed driving frequency to a prescribedstandby frequency being a lower frequency than the driving frequency. Asa result, power consumption in the constitution not used in theprocessing can be suppressed, thereby attaining to save electric power.

Herein, the description in the embodiment of the present invention isone example of the ultrasound image diagnostic apparatus according tothe present invention, and the present invention is not limited to thisexample. The de ailed constitutions and detailed operations ofrespective function sections which constitute the ultrasound imagediagnostic apparatus can be changed appropriately.

Further, in the above embodiment, ID information which can specify thespecification of an ultrasound image diagnostic apparatus main body iswirelessly transmitted to the ultrasound probe 2, and the ultrasoundprobe 2 may be configured to change transmission data corresponding tothe specification of the apparatus main body specified by the IDinformation.

Furthermore, in the above embodiment, one of three data formats of thereception signals of each channel, sound ray data, and ultrasounddiagnostic image data is configured to be selected as a transmissiontarget. However, one of two data formats among the reception signals ofeach channel, sound ray data, and ultrasound diagnostic image data maybe selected as a transmission target. In addition, it may be constitutedthat a data format different from the reception signals of each channel,sound ray data, and ultrasound diagnostic image data may be selected asa transmission target.

Moreover, in the above embodiment, image data in the B mode are producedas the ultrasound diagnostic image data. However, image data in the Amode and the M mode may be produced as the ultrasound diagnostic imagedata. Further, image data produced by the Doppler method may be used.

Moreover, in the above embodiment, transmission data are wirelesslytransmitted between the ultrasound image diagnostic apparatus main body1 and the ultrasound probe 2. However, transmission data may betransmitted through a cable. For example, it may be preferable totransmit data via serial transmission.

Moreover, in the above embodiment, the ultrasound probe which transmitsand receives ultrasound waves is used. However, a receive-onlyultrasound probe which conducts only receiving reflected ultrasoundwaves without transmitting transmission ultrasound waves.

1. An ultrasound probe comprising: a receiving section to receiveultrasound waves from an object and to acquire a receiving signal ofeach of multiple channels; a beam forming section to adjust a phase ofthe receiving signal of each of multiple channels and to sum thereceiving signals; an image producing section to produce image data todisplay an ultrasound diagnostic image based on the receiving signalssummed by the beam forming section; a transmission target selectingsection to select one from at least two of the receiving signal for eachof multiple channels, the receiving signals summed by the beam formingsection, and the image data as a transmission target; and a transmittingsection to transmit the transmission target selected by the transmissiontarget selecting section.
 2. The ultrasound probe according to claim 1,further comprising: a changeover switch to allow an operator to performchangeover operations, wherein the transmission target selecting sectionselects the transmission target in accordance with an operation via thechangeover switch.
 3. The ultrasound probe according to claim 1, furthercomprising a battery as a power source to make respective sections ofthe ultrasound probe to act, wherein the transmission target selectingsection selects the transmission target in accordance with a remainingquantity of electricity in the battery.
 4. The ultrasound probeaccording to claim 1, wherein the transmission target selecting sectionselects the transmission target in accordance with a transmittingcondition between the transmitting section and an ultrasound imagediagnostic apparatus main body which is a transmission destination ofthe transmission target.
 5. The ultrasound probe according to claim 1,further comprising: a transmission signal receiving section to receive atransmission signal from an ultrasound image diagnostic apparatus mainbody which is a transmission destination of the transmission target,wherein when the transmission signal receiving section receives atransmission target designating signal to designate a transmissiontarget from the ultrasound image diagnostic apparatus main body, thetransmission target selecting section selects the transmission targetcorresponding to the received transmission target designating signal. 6.The ultrasound probe according to claim 5, wherein when the transmissionsignal receiving section receives specification information of theultrasound image diagnostic apparatus main body, the transmission targetselecting section selects the transmission target corresponding to thereceived specification.
 7. The ultrasound probe according to claim 1,further comprising: a power control section to select a limiting target,to which supply of power is limited, from the beam forming section andthe image producing section based on the transmission target selected bythe transmission target selecting section, and to limit supply of powerfor the selected limiting target.
 8. The ultrasound probe according toclaim 1, further comprising: an operation clock control section toselect a lowering target, to which a frequency of an operation clock islowered, from the beam forming section and the image producing sectionbased on the transmission target selected by the transmission targetselecting section, and to change a frequency of an operation clocksupplied to the selected lowering target from a prescribed drivingfrequency to a prescribed standby frequency being a lower frequency thanthe driving frequency.
 9. The ultrasound probe according to claim 1,wherein the receiving signal for each of multiple channels, thereceiving signals summed by the beam forming section, and the image dataare different in data format and data size from each other.
 10. Theultrasound probe according to claim 1, Wherein the receiving signalssummed by the beam forming section are sound ray data.